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It is with a heavy heart that I write this following our season ending loss to Kane. I don't even really know where to begin. This senior class has been a part of Coudersport football history. They were sophomores in 2005 when we went 9-0 in the regular season, then won our first ever AML Championship and our third District IX Class A title. That is also the year we won our first ever PIAA State playoff game in a very memorable double overtime thriller against Kennedy Catholic. And we can't forget about the incredible 3 hour and 45 minute bus ride to Clarion in the snow to play Duquesne in the PIAA State Semi-final game.
As juniors many of these young men played critical roles in 2006 and helped lead us to another 9-0 regular season, our second straight AML Championship and our second straight District title. And we'll never forget the heartbreaking "hailmary" pass that ended our season against the eventual PIAA Class A State runner up, West Middlesex.
As their senior year approached, many of these young men had dreams of accomplishing something no on else in District 9 has ever done; win a third straight Class A District title. As we know, that didn't happen but it wasn't for a lack of effort.
These eight seniors that started playing flag football in fifth grade and stuck with the program all the way through their senior year can be VERY proud of what they have accomplished. We've watched them grow and mature through the past 3 years and they've earned our respect as coaches and fans. I would like to take just a few lines of text here and publically thank each one of these seniors for their contributions to this team and our program.
Derek Burdick #23: Thank you Derek for your dedication and selfless play.
Colton Corey #2: Thank you Colton for your tireless work ethic and continued leadership.
Mike Dunn #73: Thank you Mike for your continued dedication to the team and program.
Adam Foust #50: Thank you Adam for you continued selflessness, leadership and work ethic.
Skyler Gibble #52: Thank you Skyler for your tireless effort and dedication to this team and our program.
Justen Kinder #10: Thank you Justen for your selfless play, dedication and continued work ethic.
Brian Smith #74: Thank you Brian for your tireless work ethic, selfless play and continued dedication to the program.
Brian Wetzel #14: Thank you Brian for your leadership and continued dedication to the team and program.
I want each of you to know how proud I am of you. Not for just your work on the field but for the fine young men you've each grown into. It's been a pleasure to coach you these past 3-4 years and I feel blessed to have gotten to know you. I know each of you will be as successful in life as you were on the football field.
To the underclassmen, remember how you felt after the game on Friday. Remember that "empty" feeling in the pit of your stomach. Bottle it up and use it as fuel in the off season to drive you to work harder in the weight room and in the speed and agility drills. Use that "memory" to get better in the off season and we will be successful again next year. I'll see each of you in the weight room!
Coach Saulter
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